Tomatoes With A Rotted spot on the Blossom End?

Blossom end rot is starting to show up now in local gardens. The name is descriptive enough. The brown, broken down area at the blossom end of the tomato is caused by a shortage of calcium in the fruit. The plants may have been over or underwatered, or simply unevenly watered. Sometimes overfertilization or over-enthusiastic weed control which damages the roots of the tomato plant can also contribute to this physiological condition.

For now, the damage is done, but in many cases only the early fruit is affected. Start making sure the plants are kept evenly watered and hope for the best. Some varieties of tomatoes seem to get blossom end rot more than others, so take notes for future reference and consider growing a couple different varieties in you garden each year.

If the rotted area is small and you can cut it out, the rest of the tomato should be fine.

Current Comments

I start saving eggshells when I sprout my seeds. By the time the tomatoes are large enough to be set out, I'll have plenty of eggshells around. I then crush them and plant them right in the hole with the tomato roots. Don't see blossom end rot anymore!

Posted By: Tara | Jul 22, 2008 9:28:02 PM

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about this blog

Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Penn State Extension Horticulture Educators. Once they complete their training, they cooperate with service agencies and community groups on a wide range of gardening projects. Their talents and energies are directed toward providing a link between their community and Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach.